Interrupting device



Aug. 1'1, 1925.

G. H. CLARK INTERRUPTING DEVICE Filed .Jly 1, 1922 70 #amm/'fier y/l/l/ Patented Aug. ll, 1925.

NTTE STATS P 'l bl T GEORGE H. CLARK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO RADO CORPORATION OF AMERICA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

INTERRUPTING DEVICE.

Application filed July 1,

To all whom it may concer/a:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y., have invented certain new and useful improvements in Interrupting Devices, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings.

The present invention relates to telegraphic signalling and particularly to an arrangement for preventing the sending key of a relay for transmitting radio signals from sticking. This is caused by the arcing which occurs when the circuit is opened to produce. the dots and dashes. ln radio signaling it is found that even with the best vdesigns sticking will sometimes occur, presumably due to some temporary resonance condition which causes the arc relay tot break a heavier current than normal.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate in a simple manner the difficulty previously mentioned. This result is obtained in accordance with the present invention by producing relative rotation of the relay contacts when the signalling key is aroused so as to open the signalling circuit. The operation preferably is accomplished by an electromagnet which is operated by the movements of the transmitting key and adapted to give one of the contacts a sharp blow.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are particularly set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and mode of operation, together with further advantages thereof will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which the single figure diagrammatically illustrates an embodiment of my invention.

Tn drawing the contacts 1 and 2 are connected to the transmitter circuits which may be arranged in any well known manner. These contactsmay be arranged in a high frequency, low frequency or direct current circuit through which the power is directly or indirectly supplied to the antenna, but preferably are in the low frequency or direct current feeding circuit where the current value is relatively high and the voltage relatively low.

The contacts: are relatively movable to control the opening and closing of the cir- 1922. serial No. 572,353.

cuit, the movement being e'ected for example by a solenoid 3 having an iron core 4 to which the contact 1 is mechanically connected.l The ends of the winding of the solenoid are connected through a battery 5 and the transmitting key G. The other contact 2 is mounted on the end of a shaft 7 supported in bearings 8. Relative rotary movement of the contacts 1 and 2 is produced when the transmitter circuit is opened by means of a second solenoid 9 controlled by the transmitting key. Various cooperating mechanical and electrical devices may bc used for this purpose, that shown in the drawing comprising a solenoid winding hav*- ing one end connected to the battery and the other end connected to a back contact 10 so that the solenoid circuit is closed when the transmitting key is released. The iron core 11 of the solenoid is supported on an adjust able set screw 12 when the battery circuit is not closed through the solenoid 9. The upper end of the core 11 has a projection 13 adapted to strike the end of a lever 14 fastened on the shaft 7 to rotate the contact 2. The lever is normally held against an adjustable stop 15 by means of a spring 16 attached to an extension 17 of the lever.

The transmitting key is shown in an intermediate position in which the forward and back contacts are both open and no current flows from the battery through the windings of either solenoid. l/Vhen the telegraph key is pressed down the core 4 of solenoid 3 is moved to-ward the right to close the contacts 1, 2 and the transmitter circuit connected thereto. `When the key is released at the end of the dot or dash the circuit of solenoid 3 is opened and the core 4 is drawn towards the left by the spring 18 for the purpose of opening the contacts 1 and 2. In break ing the transmitting circuit it is found that even in the best designs contacts 1 and 2 will occasionally stick due to arcing and welding` which occurs when an abnormal current is broken and the relay will be render-od inoperative. To remedy this the key when released touches a back contact 10 and closes the battery through the winding of solenoid 9. This lifts the core 11 which strikes a sharp hammer blow against the lever 14 and rotates the shaft 7 and contact 2 as the contacts 1 and 2 are being separated. I have found that this quick relative rotation of contacts 1 and 2 occurring during the sepa- In the arrangement shown the circuit of the solenoid 9 is closed and the core l1 and lever 14 raised until the key is againclosed, although obviously this is notVV essential as the down stioke is not essentially a working stroke.

Various arrangements for securing a rotary blow may be utilized and the one shown is merely a convenient illustration which is `not necessarily the most suitable construction in all cases, as the latter will the type of relay key used.-

Having described my invention, what I claim is: v

pl. Current breaking devices for telegraphic signalling circuits, comprising means for moving said contacts to open and close the signalling circuits, a telegraphic key for controlling said inea-ns, and means controlled by said telegraphic key for relatively rotating the contacts through a certainl angle kupon opening ythe signalling circuits.

`2. Current breakingl devices for teledepend on graphic signalling circuits coiinprising con- A tacts connected in the signalling circuits, means for moving said contacts to open and close the signalling circuits, a telegraphic key for controlling said means, and means controlled by said telegrap'hic key lor suddenly producing relative displacement be-y tween the surfaces of said contacts.

i 3.. Current breaking devices for telegraphic signalling circuits c omp'risingcontacts connected in the signa-lling circuits, means for moving said contacts to open and closenthe signalling circuits, a telegraphic keylfor controlling said means, and means controlled by said telegraphic key for applying a rotary blow to one of said contacts.

4:. Current 'breaking devices for telegraphic signalling circuits comprising a pair oif contacts, means for producing relative displacement between said contacts to open and close the .signalling circuits, means for producing relative rotation between the surfaces of the contacts upon opening the signalling circuits and a telegraph signalling key for controlling both of said means.

5. Current breaking devices for teletelegraphic signalling key for controlling both of said means. 4 A

6. Current breaking devices for telegraphic signalling circuits comprising a pair ot contacts in the signalling circuit, a pair o' electroinagnets, one ot said electromag open and close the same and the other cooperating therewith to produce relative rotation and a signalling key for controlling bothof' said electromagnets.

7. Current breaking devices for telegraphic signalling circuits comprising a. pair of contacts in the signalling circuits, a telegraphickey having two contacts adapted to be closed on opposite strokes, an electromagnet connected to each contact, one of said electromagiiets being connected to the contacts for opening and closing the latter on one stro-ke of' the key and the other electromagnet connected to the contacts for producing relative Arotation of the latter.

8. Current breaking devices for telegraphic signa-lling circuits comprising a pair of contacts in the signalling key, an electromagnet` connected through the key with a source of current, said electromagnet being i connected to the contacts to produce relative longitudinal displacement, a second e1ectromagnet connected to a source of current through a back contact and cooperatively `associated with said contacts to prodii relative rotary movement therebetween when the siQnalling circuit is opened.

9. V/urrent breaking devices for telegraphic signalling circuits comprising a pair Vot contacts, a solenoid having a core to which one of said contacts is attached, a

shaft on which the other contact is attached,

a. second solenoid having a core for rotating the shaft through a certain angle and a telegraphic signalling key adapted to close the circuit of first of the solcnoids on signalling stroke and the other Vsolenoid on the release 'stroke of said key whereby Athe contacts are rotated relatively when the signalling circuit is opened. Y

A GEORGE H. CLARK.

nets being associated with said contacts to 

